Everglades National Park recreational saltwater fisheries report 2019

Kavanagh, Christopher; Osborne, Jason; Kalafarski, John

Sport fisheries in Everglades National Park showed remarkable increases in catch per unit effort (CPUE) of preferred species in 2019. Total reported catch increased 19% from 2018 to 2019, while the number of interviewed fishing trips decreased by 4%. The lower number of interviews can be explained by missing data from January 2019 due to a federal government shutdown. Average anglers per fishing trip also decreased at the same time; therefore, total fishing effort reported was lower. This report provides an analysis of five species of fish of recreational interest: Common Snook, Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Gray Snapper, and Tarpon. These species represent the preferred fish catch, either stated or preferentially kept, according to angler interviews, and comprised nearly 65% of all fish reported caught recreationally in 2019. Additionally, the status of several other species or families of fish are described. The Common Snook, Centropomus undecimalis, was the most frequently caught fish in both years, representing 21% of all reported catch in 2018 and increasing to 29% of total reported catch in 2019. The increase in Snook catch in 2018 and 2019 marks a significant recovery since the mass mortality of the species in South Florida coastal waters that occurred with the extreme low temperatures of January 2010. CPUE increased to the highest ever recorded for the species over the 60-year period of record. Anecdotally, most of the Snook caught were described as “under slot” (smaller than legal limit) individuals. Average Snook catch nearly reached one fish per hour on trips when it was caught, which is three times higher than the long-term average. The other four species of fish studied in detail either remained stable or improved. Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellata) showed a large increase in CPUE in 2019, double the average CPUE of the previous 5 years. The catch rate for Red Drum increased 36% over 2018 levels. Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) CPUE did not change significantly from 2018 to 2019. Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) CPUE in 2019 remained similar to 2018. Gray Snapper (also known as Mangrove Snapper) catch rate had experienced a decadal trend upward and reached a 35-year high in 2017. Tarpon (Megalops atlantica), a notoriously difficult fish to catch, increased in CPUE from 2018 to 2019, continuing an eight-year trend of increasing CPUE from a low point in 2011. Tarpon are intolerant of cold temperatures, and the population suffered losses during the January 2010 cold weather in South Florida. This report also summarizes information about other fish caught in the park’s estuarine waters. Sixty-seven total fish species were identified and reported caught by hook and line fishing during the year in 2019, but only 21 species represented 99% of the total catch. The vast majority of “other-fish-caught,” and generally not preferred, were catfish (Hardheads and Gafftopsail), Ladyfish and Crevalle Jack.

Everglades National Park recreational saltwater fisheries report 2019

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